Joe and Melissa Bates recount how a layoff sparked Legacy Plumbing and Heating, guided by mentors who shaped their business and family life. They reflect on the wisdom poured into them and their drive to pay it forward in their community. This episode captures the grit of entrepreneurship and the quiet strength of human connection.

BIG IDEA

“When I see other people in a similar situation where I was, I always tell the kids, when I retire someday, I want to find me in 2009 and go find that guy and make a difference in his life because I just feel like I owe.”

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Joe and Melissa Bates recount starting a business amid economic hardship, raising four kids while relying on faith to overcome fear. Sacrificing their retirement for a truck and growing their own food, they built a legacy of resilience and integrity. Their story shows how trust and purpose can transform struggle into strength.

BIG IDEA

“God is bigger than our excuses.”

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Joe was laid off in January 2009, facing a bleak winter with a new house, four kids, and no job prospects. In a pivotal moment, Melissa countered his fear with “God’s got this,” sparking a shift from despair to determination. This episode traces their journey of resilience and faith through the chaos of the Great Recession.

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Joe and Melissa Bates unpack his raw journey from hospital clerk to master plumber in Minnesota, shaped by a mentor’s patience and the humbling art of cutting pipe straight. Beyond the tools, this episode of Feel Northern Air reveals the gritty camaraderie of job-site hazing and the quiet pride of mastering a trade. Hit play for a tactile glimpse into plumbing’s human side, with plans to share its sarcastic soul on social media.

THE BIG IDEA

Beyond the tools, it’s a story of human connection: the camaraderie of job-site ribbing, the humbling sting of a thrown pipe, and the quiet pride of mastering a craft.

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How do you raise kids who stand firm in a world that pulls them to conform? In this episode, Joe and Melissa Bates peel back the layers of their homeschooling life, where faith, community, and conviction collide with real-world challenges. From multi-generational Sabbath gatherings to a teen selling HVAC to folks triple his age, they share how their kids learned to navigate life alongside people of all walks—not just their peers. Picture a shy homeschooler building a housecleaning gig or a football star choosing practice over Friday night games, all while lifting his team. This episode digs into the quiet strength of integrity—how it’s forged in a family that prays for a guiding word and lives it out through service, grit, and going against the grain. It’s a grounded, heartfelt look at parenting with purpose in a fragmented world.

BIG IDEA

“We have to be able to live in and among people that aren’t exactly like us and I think that’s something that the kids really grew a skill… where they’re able to interact with.”

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Picture this: a creaky 1972 pop-up camper swaying in a Minnesota storm, parked at the end of an airplane runway, with a family of six scrambling for safety in a mosquito-infested truck bed. In Episode 3 of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, Joe and Melissa Bates relive their wildest homeschool adventure—a trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder pageant in Walnut Grove. What starts as a quest to bring “Little House on the Prairie” to life turns into a gritty lesson in resilience, bonding, and the unpredictable beauty of learning outside the lines. From wading in Plum Creek to braving Voyagers National Park’s rugged islands, they share how these raw, real moments—flawed plans and all—ignited a lifelong love for history and survival skills in their kids. This isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s a vivid testament to how hardship and wonder can coexist, shaping a family’s story one muddy campsite at a time.

BIG IDEA

“But I think that is really what was a big neat part of the homeschooling experience was we were able to read books about things as a family and then go to these places and experience the literal Little House on the Prairie.”

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What does it take to raise kids who thrive outside the traditional classroom? In Episode 2 of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, Joe and Melissa Bates dive into the uncharted waters of homeschooling after a move to Minnesota leaves them isolated and searching for connection. A chance encounter with a fellow homeschooling family sparks a lifeline—practical advice, philosophies, and a fresh lens on learning that reshape their approach. From clashing over desks versus “living books” to embracing a rhythm of service, work, and passion-driven education, they unpack how this journey forged their kids into resilient, engaged adults. Ian’s aerospace obsession, fueled by Civil Air Patrol, and the family’s commitment to a third-service model illustrate a striking truth: failure isn’t the enemy—it’s the teacher. This episode is a candid, textured look at betting on curiosity over conformity, with lessons that ripple beyond the homeschool bubble.

BIG IDEA

“And I think one of the, one of the really huge points of the whole thing… was we wanted to instill in them a love for learning.”

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What happens when two parents with opposite instincts—one a rule-following athlete, the other a free-spirited dreamer—face the daunting choice of how to educate their kids? In this raw, relatable debut episode of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, Melissa and Joe Bates unpack their journey from clashing perspectives to an unexpected homeschooling experiment that defied their own expectations. With candor and warmth, they trace the tension of their early marriage, the weight of their own school experiences, and the quiet triumph of watching their three-year-old daughter read—years ahead of schedule. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about the messy, human wrestle to nurture passion, purpose, and happiness in the next generation. If you’ve ever questioned the systems shaping your life or longed to carve a different path for your kids, this conversation will linger with you long after it ends.

BIG IDEA

“And I think that's what I really was looking forward to is just her being happy about school and learning.”

homeschooling, parenting choices, alternative education, early reading, family dynamics